Munsch fans 20, Bulldogs split opening day in Tucson

TUCSON, Ariz. – A seven-game run at the Tucson Invitational began on Saturday (March 7) as the Concordia University baseball team took on Morningside and sister school Concordia University, St. Paul. The Bulldogs relinquished the lead and fell 7-5 to the Mustangs in what went down as a nonconference game. CUNE rebounded with a 6-3 victory to polish off the day.

Sixth-year head coach Ryan Dupic’s squad is now 11-3 overall and ranked 24th in the NAIA by Perfect Game. The loss to Morningside snapped a seven-game win streak.

Senior Jason Munsch broke a school single-game record by striking out 20 hitters in the opener in Tucson, Ariz. Munsch fired seven shutout frames and left the game with a 5-0 advantage. Unfortunately, things unraveled in the eighth when the Mustangs put seven runs on the board. Munsch has recorded 43 strikeouts in his first 19 innings of work this season.

The Bulldogs rebounded in the Saturday capper by pounding out 12 hits. Keaton Candor homered and drove in three runs. Shortstop Jayden Adams added three hits, a run and an RBI. Jesse Garcia and Jakob Faulk also added two hits apiece. Meanwhile, Thomas Sautel drove in a pair of runs.

On the mound, Nick Little fired seven innings and moved to 3-0. Fresh off a no-hitter of Waldorf, Little scattered 10 hits and allowed three earned runs. He also struck out six Golden Bears hitters as the Bulldogs claimed victory over the NCAA Division II opponent. Ryan Samuelson pitched the ninth and collected his third save of the season.

The Bulldogs will take on another conference opponent on Sunday when the Tucson Invitational continues. Concordia and Jamestown will begin at doubleheader at 3 p.m. MT / 5 p.m. CT from field 5 at the Kino Sports Complex. The two sides met in the 2019 GPAC tournament championship game. The twin bill will not count towards the conference standings.